Apparatus for successively taking out papers from a stack thereof

ABSTRACT

Sheet feeding apparatus comprises paper supply means including means for progressively advancing a stack of papers, a rotary member positioned on the output side of the paper supply means, and a suction head supported by the rotary member so as to be rotatable about its own axis and to rotate about the axis of the rotary member in response to the rotation of the rotary member. The suction head has a vacuum suction port to suck and separate the foremost sheet of paper from the stack and suction conveyor means is disposed close to the locus of revolution of the suction head to suck and convey the sheet of paper sucked and separated by the suction head away from the stack.

IJited States Patent 1 Kubo et al.

[ 1March 13, 1973 I APPARATUS FOR SUCCESSIVELY TAKING OUT PAPERS FROM ASTACK THEREOF [75] Inventors: Mitsuo Kubo, Tokyo; Shunichi Nakajima,Yokohama, both of Japan [73] Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co.,Ltd.,

Kawasaki-shi, Japan [22] Filed: April 7, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 132,079

[52] US. Cl. ..271/29 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 3/08 [58] Field of Search..271/27, 28, 29, DIG. l

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,597,594 8/l97l Evans..271/27 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Attorney-Flynn & Frishauf[57] ABSTRACT Sheet feeding apparatus comprises paper supply meansincluding means for progressively advancing a stack of papers, a rotarymember positioned on the output side of the paper supply means, and asuction head supported by the rotary member so as to be rotatable aboutits own axis and to rotate about the axis of the rotary member inresponse to the rotation of the rotary member. The suction head has avacuum suction port to suck and separate the foremost sheet of paperfrom the stack and suction conveyor means is disposed close to the locusof revolution of the suction head to suck and convey the sheet of papersucked and separated by the suction head away from the stack.

3,041,068 6/1962 Schalegger ..27l/DlG. 1 2,806,965 9/1957 Carlisle..271/62 B 17 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures I l I 73 :3 em s s H 3 PATENIEBARI ma L 3,720,409

- SHEET 30F e PATEWEIWR a 3720.409

SHEET 50F 6 0 ROTARY 3 H3 VACUUM PUMP MEMBER A,

L H4 SPEED CHANGE GEAR PRESSURE DETECTION ELEMENT E 33 DRIVING S R MOTORglmgulxmmme AMPLIFIER APPARATUS FOR SUCCESSIVELY TAKING OUT PAPERS FROMA STACK THEREOF This invention relates to apparatus for successivelyfeeding papers, paper money, and the like, and more particularly toautomatic apparatus for successively separating and feeding stackedpapers and the like.

Many types of apparatus for successively feeding stacked sheets ofpapers are now widely used in printing machines and the like. Papersprocessed by such apparatus are ordinarily new, flat and smooth so thatseparation of respective sheets can be done by a relatively simpledevice.

However, paper money is frequently folded and unfolded duringcirculation and is spoiled or deformed by many people handling them.When collected in banks, the paper money is counted and inspected by theworking staff of the banks and classified into usable bills and spoiledor injured bills and are often inspected as to whether they are genuineor counterfeit. The new counting operation of these papers can bereadily mechanized or automated and such automatic machines have alreadybeen commercialized. Such automatic machines require automatic apparatusfor successively separating and taking out or feeding sheets of papersfrom a stack thereof in order to inspect them automatically.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new andimproved apparatus for successively separating and taking out or feedingsheets of papers from a stack thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus forsuccessively feeding papers wherein feeding of two or more sheets at atime can be positively prevented.

According to this invention, there is provided apparatus for feedingpapers from a stack comprising paper supply means including means forholding the papers in a stacked state, and means for progressivelyadvancing the stack of papers; a rotary member positioned on the outputside of the paper supply means; means for rotating the rotary member; asuction head supported by the rotary member so as to rotate about itsown axis and to rotate about the axis of the rotary member in responseto the rotation of the rotary member the suction head having a vacuumsuction port to suck and separate the foremost sheet of paper; andsuction conveyor means disposed close to the locus of revolution of thesuction head to attract and convey the sheet of paper sucked andseparated by the suction head.

Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fullyunderstood from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of a paper taking out head utilizedin this invention;

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view taken along a line III- III in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4a to 4e show diagrammatic plan views useful to explain theoperation of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 5 shows a diagrammatic plan view of a modified embodiment of thisinvention;

FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic plan view of a further modification of thisinvention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a separation head utilized inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram ofa device for regulating the speed ofarotary member.

With reference now to FIG. 1, a paper supply device 10 comprises a ductshaped paper magazine 14 for sheets of papers S defined by a bottomplate 11- and vertical side walls 12 and 13 secured to the bottom plate11. The magazine is secured to a frame F and contains therein a stack ofpapers S which are held upright on the bottom plate. The magazineincludes a vertical rear plate 15 adjustable in the horizontal directionas viewed in FIG. 1 to support the rearmost sheet Sn of the stack.Although not shown in the drawing, the frame 15a of supporting frame 15is connected to a weight through a cord to urge the stack of the papersto the right by a constant force. On the extension of the bottom plate11 is secured a leaf spring 16 to urge the foremost sheet S of the stackby the free end 16a of the leaf spring.

A paper taking out or feed head assembly 20 is disposed in front of thepaper supply device 10. The

details of this paper taking out device 20 are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the paper taking out device comprises a base21 secured to frame F, and a vertical hollow shaft 22 extending throughbase plate 21 at substantially the center of base plate 21. A vacuumsuction device, a vacuum pump 114 shown in FIG. 8, for example, isconnected to the lower end of the bore 23 of the hollow shaft 22 whereasthe upper end is closed and is provided with a lateral opening 24.Bearing means 25 and 26 are mounted on the periphery of the upperportion of hollow shaft to rotatably support a rotary member 27comprising a sleeve 29 having a radially extending relatively wideflange 28 and an annular rotary disc 30 mounted on flange 28. A pulley31 is mounted on the lower end of sleeve 29, which is driven by anelectric motor 33 mounted on a support 32 secured to the lower side ofbase 21 through a pulley 34 and a belt 35 for rotating the rotary member27 about hollow shaft 22 at a constant speed. A pair of suction headassemblies 36 extend through the flange 28 of rotary member 27 androtary disc 30 at diametrically opposite points with respect to shaft22, each of the suction head assemblies being rotatably supported byrotary member 27. Each suction head assembly 36 comprises a bottomedcylindrical shaft 38 and a gear 39 mounted on the shaft 38 at anintermediate point thereof. On the upper end of shaft 38 is fitted acylindrical suction head 40, one side surface thereof being concave asat 41 which communicates with the interior of the suction head through aplurality of radial suction ports or openings 42. A bearing sleeve 44journalling shaft 38 is received in an opening 43 extending throughrotary disc 30 and flange 28 of the rotary member 27. Vent openings 46are formed at the lower end of hollow shaft 38 to communicate theinternal bore of shaft 38 with radial openings 48 of circular disc 30through an annular opening 47 of the bearing sleeve 44. A verticalcylinder 49 is secured to the outside of hollow shaft 22 betweenbearings 25 and 26 in such a manner that the outer peripheral surface49a of the cylinder 49 slidably engages the inner surface of rotarymember 27. Cylinder 49 is formed with a radial vent opening 50tenninating at it outer end with a circumferential groove 51 as shown inFIG. 3. The inner end of vent opening 50 is communicated with bore 24 ofhollow shaft 22 whereas the outer end with the inside of suction head 40through openings 46, 47 and 48. Accordingly, as the rotary member 27 isrotated about cylinder 49 the interior of the suction head 40 isevacuated only when openings 48 and 51 align with each other to suck asheet of paper S. In other words, the rotary member 27 functions as avalve device as the suction heads 40 are revolved, as will be describedlater in more detail.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, a groove 37 is provided for cylinder 49at a point behind groove 51. One end of groove 37 is arranged tocommunicate with opening 48 through flange 28 of the rotary member 27whereas the other end is vented to the atmosphere. Accordingly,immediately after closure of opening 48 by the cylinder 49 to stopevacuation of the suction head 40, the head will be vented to theatmosphere through groove 37 to release the sheet of paper.

A bottom cover 56 for covering rotary member 27 is supported by verticalposts 55 secured to base 21. A vertical ring 57 is secured to the upperside of cover 56 to surround the outer periphery of the upper portion ofrotary member 27. On the inner periphery of ring 57 are formed gearteeth 58 meshing with the gear 39 on the suction head assembly 36 torotate suction head assemblies and hence suction heads 40 about theirown axes and to revolve these members about the axis of shaft 22 as therotary member 27 is rotated. In this example, it is designed thatsuction heads are rotated three times per one revolution.

There are also provided a cylindrical separation head 60 and acylindrical pressing head 61 with their lower ends secured to theperipheral portion of the rotary disc 30 of rotary member 27. Theseheads 60 and 61 are positioned between the pair of suction heads 40 withan equal spacing as best shown in FIG. 1.

The separation head 60 may be a mere cylindrical member but it isadvantageous that the separation head is provided with a rotatablefriction member. More particularly, a vertical shaft 62 is providedabove the rotary disc 30 to support a bottomed cylindrical member 63having a screw 64 threaded into the upper end thereof. A pressing roller67 of resilient material having a large coefficient of friction, such asrubber, is rotatably mounted on the shank 65 of screw 64. The pressingroller 67 is designed to have a larger diameter than the head of screw64 and cylindrical member 63 so as to engage the rear surface of a sheetof paper S separated by the suction head 40 for urging it against thesurface ofa suction belt to be described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rotary member 27 is disposed such that itsuccessively brings respective heads 40, 60 and 61 to engage theforemost paper S, in the paper supply device 10. A braking device orrotation control means 80 is also provided to prevent rotation ofseparating head 60 comprising a leaf spring 81 secured to a post 81a onframe F. The leaf spring 81 is lined with a strip 82 of rubber, forexample, having a large coefficient of friction and is positioned suchthat it engages only with the outer periphery 67a of the pressing roller67 of separation head 60 but not with other heads 40 and 61.Accordingly, where the pressing roller 67 of the separation head 60 isrotated in the counterclockwise direction by the action of a suctionconveyor to be described later, the pressing roller 67 will be brakedand imparted with a rotation in the clockwise direction by the contactwith the rotation control means 80.

Pressing head 61 also includes a cylindrical portion with its baseportion secured to the rotary disc 30 ofthe rotary member 27 forassisting the operation of the separation head 60. For this reason,similar to separation head 60 the pressing head 61 is also caused torevolve about the axis of shaft 22 as the rotary member 27 is rotated.

A suction conveyor 70 is disposed close to the supply device 10 andtaken out head assembly 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4a to 4e. Moreparticularly, a vacuum suction chamber 71 is provided with its suctionopening positioned nearly tangentially to the loci of revolution ofrespective heads 40, 60 and 61 of take out head assembly 20. An endlessbelt 72 driven by rollers 73 of a suitable driving device, not shown, iscaused to pass over the suction opening of the suction chamber 71 in thedirection shown by an arrow. Although not shown in the drawing, belt 72is provided with a number of perforations communicating with theinterior of the suction chamber 71. Endless belt 72 cooperates withanother adjoining belt 74 passing around rollers 74a and belt 75 passingaround roller 75a to form a conveyor passage 76.

The operation of the apparatus for successively taking out stackedpapers S will be described hereunder with particular reference to FIGS.40 to 4e. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of sheets of papers S arevertically disposed in a side by side relationship in magazine 14 onbottom plate 11 thereof. The rearmost sheet Sn of the stack is supportedby supporting plate 15 whereas the outermost sheet S is resilientlyengaged by leaf spring 16.

Vacuum pump 114 is started to evacuate suction head 40 and vacuumsuction chamber 71 to a definite vacuum. Then driving motor 33 isstarted to drive rotary member 27 and suction conveyor 70, that is belts72, 74 and 75 thereof.

Under these conditions, sheets of papers are successively taken out ofthe magazine as shown in FIGS. 4a to 4e. In a condition shown in FIG. 4awherein one of the suction heads 60 is not yet brought to a positionconfronting the outermost sheet of paper S,, as the rotary member 27 isrotated in the counterclockwise direction, suction head 40 revolves inthe counterclockwise direction and rotates in the clockwise direction,whereas separation heads 60 are maintained out of engagement with thepaper. At this time, pressing head 61 holds the outermost sheet of paperS against forward movement.

At the stage shown in FIG, 4b, one of the suction heads 40 is brought toconfront the outermost sheet of paper 8,. When the paper is attracted bythe suction head, the pressing roller 67 of the separation head 60 isarrested by braking device 80. Where the pressing roller 67 has beenrotated in the counterclockwise direction, the baking device applies abraking force to roller 67 whereas when the roller 67 leaves the brakingdevice 80, a clockwise rotation is imparted to the pressing roller 67.

In the step shown in FIG. 4c, the rotation of suction head 40 pulls theupper end of the sheet S, which is attracted by the suction head 40through opening 42 toward the center of rotary member 27 thus separatingsheet S, from the next sheet S At this time, the upper end of the secondsheet S, which has been similarly flexed is caused to engage thepressing roller 67 of the separation head 60. Regardless of the area ofthis engagement the pressing roller 67 is rotated in the directionopposite to that in which the sheet S, is pulled out. Further as theroller 67 is made ofa material which has a high frictional coefficient,the second sheet S will be pulled in the direction as shown by an arrow.Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4d, the deformation or displacement of theupper portion of the second sheet S is corrected whereas the first sheetis pulled out further by suction head 40. In other words, first andsecond sheets S, and S are separated completely by the unique action ofthe separation head 60, thus eliminating the fear of simultaneous takingout of the second sheet.

As the suction head 40 continues to rotate the suction of the suctionhead 40 is terminated by the valve device described hereinabove and theupper end of sheet S, is disengaged from the suction head 40 as shown inFIG. 42. Then by the rotation of rotary member 27, the separation head60 is urged against the rear surface of sheet S, so as to bend the sheetS, substantially in the form of a letter L around the free end 160 ofleaf spring 16. Then, as the free end of sheet S, is urged by thepressing roller 67 of separation head 60 the free end of the sheet willbe sucked by the suction belt 72 which is running in front of theopening of the vacuum suction chamber 71. The suction belt 72 removesthe lower end of the sheet S, from the magazine against the force of theleaf spring 16 to transfer the sheet along conveyor passage 76. At thistime, as the first sheet S, is rapidly withdrawn the second sheet S, ismaintained at its normal position by its static inertia. Pressing head61 assists to urge the sheet S, against conveyor belt 72. At this time,although the pressing roller 67 of the separation head 60 is impartedwith a rotation in the counterclockwise direction, or in the samedirection as that of its revolution by the contact with conveyor belt72, as shown in the drawing, but as such a rotation is imparted afterthe only one each of the respective heads are mounted on the rotarymember 27, the same speed can be attained by doubling the number ofrevolutions of rotary member 27.

Although in this embodiment, the opening 42 of the suction head 40 iscontrolled by the valve device constituted by the opening 48 of rotarydisc 30 and opening 51 of cylindrical member 49, it should be understoodthat the apparatus may be modified such that suction head 40 is normallyevacuated whereas the sheet S, attached by suction head 40 is forciblyseparated by the actions of suction belt 72 of the suction conveyor 70and of the separation head 60.

In the modified embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the braking device orrotation control device 80 for the pressing roller 67 of the separationhead 60 constituted by a leaf spring 81 is replaced by running belt 90.More particularly, an endless belt 90 comprising a conveyor passage 91is passed around respective rollers 92 such that a portion 90a of thebelt engages the pressing roller 67 of separation head 60 at a pointimmediately before the point at which one of the separation heads 60comes to oppose the stack of papers S. As shown in FIG. 5, the portion90a of belt 90 runs in the direction opposite to the direction ofrotation of the rotary member 27 so as to impart a clockwise rotation tothe pressing roller 67 of the separation head 60 as the belt comes toengage the pressing roller. For this reason, the displacement of thepaper S in the taking out or feeding direction can be prevented by theaction of the pressing roller 67 in the same manner as in the previousembodiment. As this rotation control device is constituted by a portionof belt that defines the conveyor passage 91 it is not necessary toprovide an independent driving device for belt 90. Other elementsoperate in the same manner as those of the first embodiment.

In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the pressing heads 61 inthe previous embodiments are eliminated while the separation heads 60are constructed to be displaceable. More particularly, each one ofseparation heads 60 is carried by one end of a crank arm 101 pivotallysecured to rotary member 27 by means of a pivot pin 100. The oppositeend of the crank lever 101 is connected to the rotary member 27 througha tension spring 102. Thus, the head 60 is biased to project beyond theperiphery of rotary member 27 until crank arm 101 engages a stop pin 103on the rotary member 27.

Consequently, when the separation head 60 comes to engage the paper S orbelt 72, the crank arm 101 is rotated in the clockwise direction aboutpin so that the separation head 60 is revolved in the clockwisedirection while it is displaced toward the center of the rotary member27. This assures positive contact between the separation head 60 and thepaper S or belt 72 so that it is possible to hold the paper with asufficient force or to positively suck and convey the paper by the belt72. The rotation control means may be arranged for this separation head60, but is not shown in FIG. 6.

In these embodiments, in order to positively attract the paper by thesuction head 40, the pressure applied by the supporting plate 15 of thepaper supply device 10, the speed of rotary member 27 and the suctionpressure of suction head 40 of the taking out head assembly 20 aresuitably selected. However some papers are relatively stiff while othersare relatively soft. Especially, the stiffness of paper money varieslargely dependent upon their period of circulation. For this reason,should the suction head fail to satisfactorily attract a paper sheet, itis necessary to detect such failure so as to assure positive attractionin the next cycle.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of a modified embodiment wherein thevariation in the air pressure in the suction ports or openings 42 ofsuction head 40 is converted into an electric signal by means of apiezoelectric element, for example, so as to discriminate the waveformof the signal to determine whether the paper was taken out normally ornot.

Thus, a pressure detection element 110, which may be of any type ofpressure responsive element such as a piezoelectric element is connectedto a conduit interconnecting vacuum pump 114 and suction head 40. Theoutput signal from the pressure detection element is supplied to adiscriminating circuit 112 via an amplifier 111 where it is comparedwith a reference signal to produce a difference signal indicating thepressure prevailing in the suction head. The difference signal is usedto control a speed change gear 113 connected between driving motor 33and rotary member 27 so as to decrease the operating speed of the rotarymember as long as such difference signal persists whereas to restore tonormal the operating speed of the rotary member when the differencesignal decreases to zero as a result of satisfactory attraction of thepaper. If the operating speed is restored gradually or with a time lag,rapid repetition of the speed variation due to the failure of sheetfeeding in the next cycle can be precluded.

While in this embodiment, the operating speed of the rotary member 27 isdecreased or the period in which suction is possible is elongated incase of the failure of suction, the same purpose can be attained byvarying the pressure applied to the stack of papers by the supportingplate or by varying the vacuum in the suction head. Failure of suctioncan also be detected by providing an opposed light source andphotoelectric element which are disposed to produce a signal when thelight from the source is interrupted by an attracted paper or amicro-switch operated by the attracted paper.

What we claim is:

1. Sheet feeding apparatus comprising:

paper sheet supply means including means for holding paper sheets in astacked state, and means for progressively advancing said stack of papersheets;

a rotary member positioned on the output side of said paper sheet supplymeans;

means for rotating said rotary member;

a suction head supported by said rotary member so as to be rotatableabout its own axis and to rotate about the axis of said rotary member inresponse to the rotation of said rotary member;

means for rotating said suction head said suction head having a vacuumsuction port to separate one end of the foremost sheet of paper from theremaining stacked sheets of paper by the application of suction throughsaid vacuum suction port to that side of the foremost sheet of paperwhich faces said suction head; and

suction conveyor means disposed close to the locus of revolution of saidsuction head and arranged to attract the side of said foremost sheet ofpaper sucked and separated by said suction head, and to convey theseparated sheet away from the stack.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a hollow shaft supportingsaid rotary member, an evacuation device connected to said hollow shaft,the suction head being mounted on the periphery of said rotary member,said suction port communicating with the interior of said hollow shaft,and valve means for controlling the communication between said suctionhead and said hollow shaft in response to the rotation of said rotarymember, thereby applying suction to said sheet of paper before saidsuction port of said suction head engages said sheet of paper andremoving said suction after said foremost sheet of paper has been suckedand separated from the stack.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said suction head is providedwith gear teeth and a fixed member is provided with gear teeth meshingwith said gear teeth on said suction head so as to rotate said suctionhead about its own axis inresponse .to the rotation of said rotarymember.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a separation head is mountedon said rotary member at a position to the rear of said suction head asviewed in the direction of rotation of said rotary member, whereby assaid rotary member rotates said separation head is inserted between asheet of paper sucked and separated by said suction head and the nextsheet of paper so as to feed said separated sheet of paper to saidsuction conveyor means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said separation head includesa rotary member having a larger diameter than said separation head.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said rotary member is made ofa frictional member.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein means for controlling therotation of said separation head during the rotation of said rotarymember is provided near the periphery of said rotary member.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said rotation control means ispositioned to the rear of the position where said separation headengages the foremost sheet of said paper in said paper supply means andsaid rotation control means comprises a spring member arranged toresiliently engage the rotary member of said separation head.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said rotation control means ispositioned to the rear of the position where said separation headengages the foremost sheet of paper in said paper supply means andcomprises by an endless belt running in a direction opposite to thedirection of rotation of said rotary member.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said belt also forms aconveyor passage cooperating with said suction conveyor means forcarrying said separated sheet of paper.

11. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said separation head iscarried by one end of a crank arm pivotally mounted on said rotarymember and said crank arm is provided with a spring urging saidseparation head to the outside of the periphery of said rotary head.

12. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said valve means includes acommunication passage which vents to the atmosphere said suction port ofsaid suction head when said valve means is closed.

13. Apparatus according to claim 2 which further comprises means fordetecting suction of said paper by said suction head and meanscontrolled by said detecting means for controlling the speed of saidrotary member.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said suction detection meanscomprises a pressure responsive means responsive to the pressure in saidsuction head.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said suction detection meanscomprises a source of light paper sheet supply means includes springmeans biased against the other end of said foremost sheet which isopposite the end thereof separated by said suction head, and pressingsaid other end of said sheet toward the rear of said stack, said suctionconveyor means removing a separated foremost sheet from engagement withsaid spring means.

:UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE a CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,720,409 Dated M r h 1 1 73 Inventor(s) Mitsuo KUBO et a1 It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 7,' line' 46, after "rotating said suction head" insert ;1;

same line begin new paragraph with "said suction" (second occurrence)Signed and sealed this 27th day of November 1973.

[SEAL] Attestz EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. RENE D. TEG TMEYER AttestingOfficer Acting Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 u s aoyzrmmsmPung'rmc OFFICE I96 0-366-33L F ORM o-1 050 (10-69)

1. Sheet feeding apparatus comprising: paper sheet supply meansincluding means for holding paper sheets in a stacked state, and meansfor progressively advancing said stack of paper sheets; a rotary memberpositioned on the output side of said paper sheet supply means; meansfor rotating said rotary member; a suction head supported by said rotarymember so as to be rotatable about its own axis and to rotate about theaxis of said rotary member in response to the rotation of said rotarymember; means for rotating said suction head said suction head having avacuum suction port to separate one end of the foremost sheet of paperfrom the remaining stacked sheets of paper by the application of suctionthrough said vacuum suction port to that side of the foremost sheet ofpaper which faces said suction head; and suction conveyor means disposEdclose to the locus of revolution of said suction head and arranged toattract the side of said foremost sheet of paper sucked and separated bysaid suction head, and to convey the separated sheet away from thestack.
 1. Sheet feeding apparatus comprising: paper sheet supply meansincluding means for holding paper sheets in a stacked state, and meansfor progressively advancing said stack of paper sheets; a rotary memberpositioned on the output side of said paper sheet supply means; meansfor rotating said rotary member; a suction head supported by said rotarymember so as to be rotatable about its own axis and to rotate about theaxis of said rotary member in response to the rotation of said rotarymember; means for rotating said suction head said suction head having avacuum suction port to separate one end of the foremost sheet of paperfrom the remaining stacked sheets of paper by the application of suctionthrough said vacuum suction port to that side of the foremost sheet ofpaper which faces said suction head; and suction conveyor means disposEdclose to the locus of revolution of said suction head and arranged toattract the side of said foremost sheet of paper sucked and separated bysaid suction head, and to convey the separated sheet away from thestack.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a hollow shaftsupporting said rotary member, an evacuation device connected to saidhollow shaft, the suction head being mounted on the periphery of saidrotary member, said suction port communicating with the interior of saidhollow shaft, and valve means for controlling the communication betweensaid suction head and said hollow shaft in response to the rotation ofsaid rotary member, thereby applying suction to said sheet of paperbefore said suction port of said suction head engages said sheet ofpaper and removing said suction after said foremost sheet of paper hasbeen sucked and separated from the stack.
 3. Apparatus according toclaim 2 wherein said suction head is provided with gear teeth and afixed member is provided with gear teeth meshing with said gear teeth onsaid suction head so as to rotate said suction head about its own axisin response to the rotation of said rotary member.
 4. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein a separation head is mounted on said rotarymember at a position to the rear of said suction head as viewed in thedirection of rotation of said rotary member, whereby as said rotarymember rotates said separation head is inserted between a sheet of papersucked and separated by said suction head and the next sheet of paper soas to feed said separated sheet of paper to said suction conveyor means.5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said separation head includesa rotary member having a larger diameter than said separation head. 6.Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said rotary member is made of africtional member.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein means forcontrolling the rotation of said separation head during the rotation ofsaid rotary member is provided near the periphery of said rotary member.8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said rotation control means ispositioned to the rear of the position where said separation headengages the foremost sheet of said paper in said paper supply means andsaid rotation control means comprises a spring member arranged toresiliently engage the rotary member of said separation head. 9.Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said rotation control means ispositioned to the rear of the position where said separation headengages the foremost sheet of paper in said paper supply means andcomprises by an endless belt running in a direction opposite to thedirection of rotation of said rotary member.
 10. Apparatus according toclaim 9 wherein said belt also forms a conveyor passage cooperating withsaid suction conveyor means for carrying said separated sheet of paper.11. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said separation head iscarried by one end of a crank arm pivotally mounted on said rotarymember and said crank arm is provided with a spring urging saidseparation head to the outside of the periphery of said rotary head. 12.Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said valve means includes acommunication passage which vents to the atmosphere said suction port ofsaid suction head when said valve means is closed.
 13. Apparatusaccording to claim 2 which further comprises means for detecting suctionof said paper by said suction head and means controlled by saiddetecting means for controlling the speed of said rotary member. 14.Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said suction detection meanscomprises a pressure responsive means responsive to the pressure in saidsuction head.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said suctiondetection means comprises a source of light and a photoelectric elementwhich are arranged such that the light from said source to saidphotoelectric element is interrupted by a paper sheet sucked andseparated by said suction head.
 16. APparatus according to claim 13wherein said suction detection means comprises a micro-switch arrangedto be operated by a paper sucked and separated by said suction head.